The Age of Emulsion: Paul Atkinson interview on the history of DIY on BBC Radio 4
An interview with Prof Paul Atkinson on the history of DIY is to be included in a broadcast on Radio 4’s Archive hour this weekend.
The 2008 BBC Radio 4 series ‘A History of Home’ has been remixed for Radio 4’s Archive hour slot this Saturday night. “The Age of Emulsion” featured Paul Atkinson’s interview with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Susan Marling for the series. Paul was invited to participate because of his research in ‘DIY and Democracy’.
The Age Of Emulsion is a story about our changing attitudes to housing, consumerism, national identity, sense of individuality, class, politics, and relationships between the sexes.
Starting from the 1950s, Laurence draws on a rich TV and radio archive to show how DIY went from being a necessity after World War II, to a wholesome leisure activity, to a fully-blown national obsession.
Paul Atkinson has published widely on design history, including guest editing a special issue on the subject of DIY from a design historical perspective in the Journal of Design History in 2006. More recent research has focussed on the world of DIY cigar box guitar makers
The programme is broadcast on Saturday 22 June 8.00pm-9.00pm BBC RADIO 4 and is available on BBC Sounds.